why me?

We have been studying the lives of women of the Bible for the past few months in Bible study.  The last few weeks we have studied women who were in some way related to Abraham.  We have looked at Hagar, Lot's wife, and Rebekah.  Wow!  These are some crazy lives and one dysfunctional family.  What was their deal, and couldn't Abraham get a handle on this bunch?  Abraham didn't always lead them in obedience to God and many times sat by passively and allowed their shenanigans to continue with some pretty severe and tragic consequences.  Why in the world did God choose Abraham of all the peoples of the earth to begin his covenant relationship?  Wasn't there someone a little more qualified?  Surely there was someone who had it a little more together?  Or someone better at leading his own family?  Why Abraham?   The same reason He chose me.  Why me?  Why choose crazy, dysfunctional me--someone who keeps getting it wrong, who keeps messing up, who continually fails to obediently follow God and trust His promises?  God chose Abraham and God chose me not because of anything in us, but because of who He is.  He chose us because of His love and His mercy and not based on any quality of my own.

 ^"The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.  But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.  Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments."

Deuteronomy 7:7-9

"At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.  But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,  he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,  whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,  so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."

Titus 3:3-7